Article dispensing device



Feb. 25, 1964 c. P. WARD, JR

I ARTICLE DISPENSING DEVICE Filed June 15. 1961 INVHVTOR. CHARLES P. WARD JR.

ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,122,147 AR'llCLE BEPENELYG BEVIQE Charles 1. Ward, 322, Boulder, (Iolo. (166 4 Erskine Sh, Hyattsville, Md.) Filed lane 15, 1%1, Ser. No. 117,469

7 lllairns. (Cl. 133-6) This invention relates to a novel and improved hand operated device for dispensing articles and has particular reference to an article holding and dispensing unit which is especially adaptable for storing and dispensing discshapcd objects such as pills, coins and the like.

In accordance with the present invention, it is a principal and foremost object thereof to make provision for an article dispensing device which is compact and may be easily stored in a purse or pocket for convenient holding and dispensing of disc-shaped objects in succession by a simple hand operation, the device of the present invention being particularly conformable for use in dispensing pills or coins of the desired denomination.

It is another object to make provision for an article holding and dispensing device which can be easily manipulated by hand for insertion and removal of coins the line hrough a simple squeezing action, and where the device is capable of storing articles or" d iferent sizes and shapes, such as coins of difierent denominations; yet, is simply controlled to dispense a single article at a time.

it is a further object of the present invention to provide for a coin holding and dispensing unit which is easily formed, inexpensive and economical to manufacture and which in operation avoids jamming or malfunctioning while nev rtheless being sturdy and compact in construction and elim nating a number of unnecessary parts.

It is an additional object of the present invention to provide for a holding and dispensing device for coins and the like which is gravity-fed and hand-operable for selective insertion and removal of coins one at a time while providing for storage of coins of more than one denomination; moreover, where specifically the unit is characterized by being formed of at least two complementary coin-holding portions with means associated witl each portion for insertion and removal of coins and where the portions are secured together with the removal means being so const cted and arranged as to permit gravity feed and removal of a single coin at a time through the simple expedient of hand pressure applied inwardly against opposite ends or" the unit.

it is a still further object of the present invention to make provision for a compact and inexpensive dispensing device which minimizes finger manipulation and handling of the device hi the insertion and removal of coins, and which is actually constructed and arranged to permit insertion and removal of coins by a simple hand operation.

The above and other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more readily understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken together with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a preferred embodiment f the present invention and illustrating one mode of intended operation of the unit for discharging a coin;

FIGURE 2 is a front sectional view taken on line 2-2 of FIJURE 1; and

FIGURE 3 is an end View of a component coin-holding portion of the preferred form, in accordance with the present invention.

Referring in more detail to the drawings, there is shown by way of illustrative example a preferred form of article dispensing unit as defined by a coin-holding and dispensing device it which is broadly comprised of a pair of op- Patented Feb. 25, 1964 "ice 2 posite, correspondingly formed coin-holding portions 11 and 12 with coin-dispensing means 13 and 14, including coin openings 15 and 16, forming continuations of each coin-holding portion for cooperation with slotted end portions or" each respective coin-holding portion for the insertion and removal of coins. The coin-holding portions are preferably hinged together for rotation a common plane about a common central axis as defined by pin 18 extending through and interconnecting mating coaxial bosses l9 and 2d of the respective coin-holding portions 11 and 12. Additionally, to hold the coin-holding portions and article-dispensing means in normally aligned relation as illustrated in full in FIGURE 1, resilient means in the form of a torsion spring 22 is secured at the center axis in a manner to be described.

More specifically, each coin-holding portion is comprised of common elements and accordingly the more detailed parts of each coin-holding portion will bear like numerals. In order to provide for holding or storage of coins, each coin-holding portion a generally cylindrical receptacle 25 together with a cover portion 24 which in turn is formed or" end walls 55 and 27, and a side wall 28. End wall 26 serves to close one end of each receptacle so that for example the top edge of the receptacle for the coin-holding portion U is secured uniformly throughout its circumference to the undersurface of the end Wall 26, as shown in FIGURE 2.

In order to provide acmss to the interior of the receptacle for the pu pose of insertion and removal of a coin, the opposite end of each receptacle is slotted in relation to the end wall 27, as indicated at 32, edge 33 of the receptacle is bevelec or flared outwardly throughout its greater peripheral extent, except at a limited area 34 at which it is secured to the inner surface of wall 27. In this relation, the slotted portions 32. are formed to receive the article-dispensing means 13 and each of which forms a continuation of an end wall for each coin-holding portion 11 and 12, respectively. Preferably, each dispensing means and i is in the form of a ring or band 36 defining the outermost extremity of each end wall 26, the ring being relatively thin and narrow as at 37 while being of gradually increasing thickness throughout the area designated at 38 and having a lip 39 throughout the portion or increased thickness which is formed to overlap with the exterior be eled portion or" each receptacle. In his form, he lip 39 will cooperate with the beveled portion to effectively seal the interior of the receptacle against the entry of dust and foreign particles and will also se ve to accurately locate the ring in centered relation to the receptacle when not in operation.

For pivoting or rotating the corresponding coin-holding portions about the center axis, the side walls 28 are preferably given a slight concavity, as best seen in FIG- URE 1, so as to permit ease of gri ping the opposite ends of the unit in the hand where, upon application of pressure inwardly, the coin-holding portions will pivot about the common axis from normally-aligned relation to dotted-line relation illustrated in FIGURE 1, specifically with the article-dispensing means 13 and 14 moving away from aligned relation with the respective receptacles. Also, for ease of manipulation as an important feature of the present invention, the bosses 19 and 29 for the coin-holding portions are formed in oil-center relation to the center vertical axis of each receptacle so that upon interconnection of the bosses by the common pin 18, the coin-holding portions will easily cam in one direction about the common axis for insertion or removal of the coin in a manner to be described. Similarly, the end Walls 26 and 27 are formed with aligned openings 49 and 41, respectively, which in turn can be aligned with the bosses 1? and 2%) with the dis the receptacles, the spring being biased to urge the rece tacles in an outward direction,

this being limited by the 39 moving into engagement with the beveled edge 33 of each receptacle.

The unit or the present inven on may be composed of various mate ials, and for exa= pie the coin-holding portions l1 and 12 including the receptacles cover may be composed of either a lightweight metal, lastic or rubber-like material, and similarly, the article-dispensing means 13 and 14 may be composed of any such desir d -material. Preferably, however, in accordance with the present invention a resilient material such as plastic or rubber is employed in the construction of the coin-holding portion so that in operation very slight clearance need be r1 tamed the formation of the slotted portion for insertion and removal of a coin. For exam le, the clearance could be formed to l oe about the width of a dime between the end wall 27 and beveled edge 33; yet, if a thicker coin is to be dispensed through the same slotted portion, it would tend to force itself through the slotted area by pushing the end Wall and beveled edge away from one another as it moves therethrough. The article-dispensing means as defined by the ring member may either be formed of a plastic or lightweight metal, or a combination of the two so as to provide a sturdy ring construction. In this relation, an outstanding advantage of the invention is that the coin-hold ing portions are correspondingly formed requiring the use of a single die yet can be secured together for cooperative movement about a common axis and thus used in the dispensing of coins of different denominations.

In operation, it will be noted that in hinged-together relation the slots for the portions ll and 12 are disposed in opposite inverted relation so that in holding the unit in horizontal disposition one slot will be along the upper surface whereas the other slot will be at the lower surface. In this manner, assuming that it is desired to dispense a coin of a desired denomination from one receptacle, the slotted portion for that receptacle would be at the bottom and the lower'nost coin in the receptacle would rest within the opening of the respective ring; the coins in the opposite receptacle would of course remain away from the slotted portion at the upper end of the receptacle and away from the ring resting therein. Accordingly, the coins would be gravity fed and therefore only one coin-holding portion would feed its coins into the coin ring'for removal at one time. In a typical procedure for removal of a coin, the device would be held horizontally with the front slot ed face tipping slightly dov. nwardly whereupon squeezing or pinching of the end walls toward one another against the bias of the spring, the ring with the coin resting therein would move outwardly and away from the receptacle until it clears the edge thereof as shown in the dotted line position of FIGURE 1, and the coin would drop out. Relaxation of the hand would then allow the spring to urge the device back to its normally-aligned relation. Here, it will be noted that simple turning of the device 180 about its main longitudinal axis would permit removal of a coin from the opposite receptacle.

A secondary feature of the dispensing unit resides in the relative disposition and arrangement between each of the ring members and the respective slotted portion for each receptacle. By forming the innermost part of the ring to be relatively thin, it will move into relation underlying the beveled edge of the receptacle thus at all times preventing lodging or jamming of coins in the back part of the receptacle during each operation. in

his connection, it will be seen that the sol d part of the article-dispensing means behind the ring will move through and beneath the coin receptacle as each coin is being dispensed so as to prevent the accidental dropping of a coin behind the ring opening as it moves away from the slotted portion and here, the oil-center disposition of the axis permits this movement of the dispensing means in the manner described across the slotted end portion 01" the receptacle.

Iu utfiizing the device of the present invention for example in storing and dispensing coins, it is also proferred to form the ring of a thickness somewhat less than a dime, for example, so that the clearance fort red at he slotted portion as described may also be relatively narrow and the ring will easily fit within the slotted portion. Also, the inside diameter of tie ring may be 05 any dimension depending upon the denomination of coins to be handled and for example would be made a little bit larger than a quarter so as to permit handl ng of pennies, nickels, dimes or quarters or any combination of two. Being capable of a mere hand squeezing operation, the device can thus be easily operated wearing gloves or mittens in cold weather where finger manipulation would be somewhat difficult.

it will be apparent also that in assembling the device, in place or" the riveted center pin 18 construction as shown, the pin may be formed at its ends for snap-fitting engagement with a snap provided at the free ends of the end Walls 27 to permit separate removal of either ofrthe wall portions for loading of coins into the receptacles. Also if desired the opposite end walls 26 may be sloped so that the coins will rest in the receptacle at an angle, thus to prevent accidental removal through the top slotted portion when removing coins through the opposite bottom slotted portion.

It will be evident from the foregoing that a number of modifications and changes may be made in the details or" construction operation of the present invention, or in the type of article handled, without departing from its intended scope, as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An article-dispensing device for coins and the like comprising at least two coin-holding portions each in cluding a lateral slotted portion and with coin-dispensing means associated with each coin-holding portion, said coin-holding portions being pivotally secured together in side by side relation and each coin-dispensing means being arranged for movement through a slotted portion to provide .for insertion and removal of coins, and resilient means secured between said coin-holding portions normally biasing said coin-dispensing means and coinholding portions into a position holding said dispensing means in alignment with said slotted portions and said coin-holding portions being pivotal against the bias of said resilient means to move said dispensing means out of alignment with said slotted portions to substantially clear said coin-holding portions for removal of a coin.

2. An article-dispensing device according to claim 1 in which each coin-holding portion is comprised of a generally cylindrical receptacle closed at opposite ends thereof with said slotted portion being formed at one end of the receptacle and said coin-dispensing means extending from the opposite end, said coin-holding portions being secured together in juxtaposed, inverted relation with said coin-dispensing means of one coin-holding portion being aligned with said slotted portion of the other coin-holding portion.

3. An article-dispensing device according to claim 2 in which said coin-dispensing means is in the form of a relatively flat ring-like portion extending from one end of said receptacle opposite its slotted portion for registry with the slotted portion of the other receptacle.

4. An article-dispensing device according to claim 3 in which the end of the receptacle at the slotted portion is provided with an outwardly flared edge throughout its greater peripheral extent and said ring-like member is provided with a lip along a limited portion thereof for movement into and out of engagement with said flared edge portion.

5. An article-dispensing device according to claim 4 in Which said coin-holding portions are hinged together about a common vertical axis therebetween in ofi-center relation to the axes of said receptacles.

6. An article-dispensing device for holding and dispensing disc-shaped articles, comprising a pair of coin receptacles hinged together in opposite relation for movement about a common center axis, each receptacle including a cover closing opposed ends thereof with a lateral slot formed between said cover and one end of said receptacle for insertion and removal of articles, dispensing means for each receptacle disposed for movement through the slot of the other receptacle selectively and successively advancing articles into and out of said other receptacle, and resilient means normally holding said dispensing means in registry With said slot and receptacle whereupon manipulation of said receptacles against the bias of said resilient means each of said dispensing means is moved out of alignment with a receptacle to substantially clear the respective slot.

7. A coin-dispensing device comprising a pair of generally cylindrical coin receptacles hinged together in opposite relation for movement about a common center axis, each receptacle including a covering encasing opposed ends thereof with a lateral slot between said cover and one end of said receptacle for insertion and removal of coins and gripping surfaces on the exterior of said receptacles for manual and inward pivoting of the receptacles about the center axis, dispensing means for each receptacle in the form of a ring-shaped member defining an extension of the cover of the opposite receptacle disposed for movement through the slot into and out of alignment with the receptacle and being constructed and arranged to successively advance coins into and out of the receptacle, and a spring member normally holding said dispensing means in registry with said slot and receptacle whereupon pivoting of said receptacles against the bias of said spring each dispensing means is moved out of alignment with the respective receptacle to substantially clear the slot for removal of a coin.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,198,204 Elmer Sept. 12, 1916 

6. AN ARTICLE-DISPENSING DEVICE FOR HOLDING AND DISPENSING DISC-SHAPED ARTICLES, COMPRISING A PAIR OF COIN RECEPTACLES HINGED TOGETHER IN OPPOSITE RELATION FOR MOVEMENT ABOUT A COMMON CENTER AXIS, EACH RECEPTACLE INCLUDING A COVER CLOSING OPPOSED ENDS THEREOF WITH A LATERAL SLOT FORMED BETWEEN SAID COVER AND ONE END OF SAID RECEPTACLE FOR INSERTION AND REMOVAL OF ARTICLES, DISPENSING MEANS FOR EACH RECEPTACLE DISPOSED FOR MOVEMENT THROUGH THE SLOT OF THE OTHER RECEPTACLE SELECTIVELY AND SUCCESSIVELY ADVANCING ARTICLES INTO AND OUT OF SAID OTHER RECEPTACLE, AND RESILIENT MEANS NORMALLY HOLDING SAID DISPENSING MEANS IN REGISTRY WITH SAID SLOT AND RECEPTACLE WHEREUPON MANIPULATION OF SAID RECEPTACLES AGAINST THE BIAS OF SAID RESILIENT MEANS EACH OF SAID DISPENSING MEANS IS MOVED OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH A RECEPTACLE TO SUBSTANTIALLY CLEAR THE RESPECTIVE SLOT. 